The King in His Beauty: A Biblical Theology of the Old and New Testaments

The King In His Beauty by Tom Schreiner is a book about biblical theology. But my suspicion is the author would agree enthusiastically with my assertion that the book is a worship manual. Schreiner's work weighs in at 646 pages. Each page is filled with heart-warming theology and mind-stretching propositions. But when the work is considered as a whole - it is, in the final analysis a worship manual.The book is arranged in nine parts.Part 1: Creation to the Edge of CanaanPart 2: The Story of Possession, Exile, and ReturnPart 3: lsrael's Songs and WisdomPart 4: Judgment and Salvation in the ProphetsPart 5: The Kingdom in Matthew, Mark, and Luke-ActsPart 6: Eternal Life in the Gospel and Epistles of JohnPart 7: The End of Ages Has Come According to the Apostle PaulPart 8: Living in the Last Days According to the General EpistlesPart 9: The Kingdom Will ComeSchreiner makes it clear that Redemptive history is going somewhere: "The Scriptures promise that there will be a new heaven and a new earth - a new creation where the glory of God will illumine the cosmos. So, the kingdom of God has a threefold dimension, focusing on God as King, on human beings as subjects of the King, and the universe as the place where his kingship is worked out."The author demonstrates over and over again that Christ is the King; Christ intends to fulfill his promises; that the offspring of the woman will be the Victor; he will triumph over the serpent through the son of David (Gen. 3:15). He reiterates the theme that runs throughout the Scripture, namely, the theme of judgment followed by salvation. But the most penetrating reality in Schreiner's work is the main truth he wishes to communicate, namely, the people of God will see the King in his beauty.This is the book I've been searching for since my days as a Seminary student. For years, I was taught the distinctives of classical Dispensationalism that saw two peoples of God, a distinction between the kingdom of God and the kingdom of heaven, a rigid distinction between Israel and the church, and a pre-tribulational rapture. Schreiner is not content to rest in the land of classical dispensational theology, a terrain that is filled with horrible hermeneutics and wacky exegetical propositions. He moves forward and as far as I can tell, lands squarely in a historical premillennial arena.One paragraph in particular is worth citing; a paragraph that has ended a thirty year search for answers to the dispensational dilemma. Schreiner writes, "The coming of Jesus Christ means that the old covenant, the Sinai covenant, has passed away, and the new covenant has become a reality. The promises of Abraham are being fulfilled in the gospel of Jesus Christ. Now inclusion in the people of God is not restricted to Israel but is open to both Jews and Gentiles who believe in Jesus. Those who trust in him are truly children of Abraham (emphasis mine). Those who belong to Jesus Christ and who have received the gift of the Spirit are truly circumcised. Those who are members of the new creation are the new and true Israel of God. In the church of Jesus Christ the worldwide promises given to Abraham are becoming a reality, for Jews and Gentiles are one body in Christ, equally members of the people of God together" (p. 642).Schreiner also clears up the essence of the land promises that are a major part of the dispensational warp and woof: "The new new heavens and the new earth fulfill the land promise given to the patriarchs, but now the promise encompasses the entire universe" (p 617).The King in His Beauty is a fitting companion to recent works that have also jettisoned classical dispensational distinctives, namely, Kingdom Through Covenant by Gentry and Wellum and God's Glory in Salvation Through Judgment by James Hamilton. Indeed, it is an essential part of every pastoral toolbox. But "toolbox" is the wrong metaphor. The King in His Beauty is a treasure chest. Readers who open this treasure chest will be immediately struck with the majesty, sovereignty, and the beauty of the Lord Jesus Christ! Open the worship manual and respond rightly with God-centered worship!Highly recommended

The King and his beauty is an excellent book which conveys the mega theme of scripture which is the rule and reign of God in his Kingdom. Schreiner has capture the main theme of the Bible as he traces that theme through every book of the Bible.

Thomas Schreiner begins by stating that it has been clear to modern theologians that there is not only one "theme" or common vein in which we are to draw our theology from, of both old and new testaments alike. We can look at the Bible as a whole, certainly from the perspective of God's revealed plan for redemption of mankind, which we should; but there are also other common themes that run throughout, and connect both testaments. A commonly exhorted one is the covenants, connecting the new testaments ( also translated covenants ) yet Schreiner chooses The Kingdom of God for his latest work. The Kingdom of God is a commonly overlooked or misunderstood theme in the Bible, yet as Schreiner shows, it is on every page. He does an excellent job bringing to light this common theme as it runs throughout all sacred scripture. Some critics may find that in doing so Schreiner neglects other themes or points of emphasis in his "overview" of certain books of the Bible. This however is a misunderstanding of what a Theology of the Bible, and an overview of the Bible are. In writing a Theology of both testaments, in one work, Schreiner does not claim to include an exhaustive overview of each book of the Bible. The purpose of his work is made plain from the beginning and I believe he fulfills it to the end. I would recommend this book to the more serious student of the Bible, yet it is written in plain enough of a language that all believers can benefit from it.

This is a very reverential reading of the Bible with OT Chistology that reminds me of the study notes in Bibles from the 18th century. Other reviewers have praised it well but I feel it is fair to mention a few shortcomings.The book tends to lose focus as the author summarizes the books of the Bible. Schreiner frequently strays from the theological goal (showing the King in his beauty) to merely summarize the content of any given text.It is also very redundant. Chapters have summary conclusions, sections have summary interludes, and the whole book has a 16 page epilogue summarizing what was just summarized.Lastly, I was surprised how little of a book titled The King in His Beauty was dedicated to Revelation—the book of the Bible specifically devoted to the King in his beauty. Schreiner gives only 14 pages to Revelation and most of his focus, though biblically sound, is off topic of the King in his beauty.Nevertheless I do recommend this book. It will serve any Christian well.

Though a bit daunting at 647 pages, Dr Schreiner’s book takes the Bible stories you have heard and weaves a theme of God and the beauty of him as King through it. I have a richer understanding of the Bible as a whole and was called to consider some new light as well. Though bulky, it is not a difficult theological read. If you have read the Bible throughout your life and want to have it put together for you, I recommend The King in His Beauty to you.

I ordered 10 copies of this book to use as a review of the bible after our class has finished studying the entire bible. I have been reading through it and am very pleased with the emphasis on the story of the Savior. I can use the Old Testament for our review but will have to find another book for the New Testament. Unfortunately this was written in covenant theology which replaces Israel with the church. I wish I had ordered just one and read it first. I never would use it except for the cost. We will make use of it.

This is a brilliant and most readable book. I actually thought that I would never write a review praising a book on Biblical Theology but this is not only a very thorough and well balanced book but an eminently readable one. I bought the Kindle edition and later bought the book for a pastor friend of mine whose understanding of Biblical Theology is a prominent part of his teaching and preaching - not in a dry-as-dust sort of way but in the way that Schreiner writes - a captivating way which both links the Bible books together but has at its heart the One described in the title - Jesus - the KIng in His Beauty. It brilliantly captures the Saviour who is the theme of Old and New Testaments and I am grateful that I have lived to read a book which not only reawakened my interest in BT but also satisfied it so completely. Wonderful. The title is from Isaiah 33:17 "Your eyes will see the king in his beauty and view a land that stretches afar." Schreiner lovingly gives us a foretaste of what is promised.

A beautiful read and I've only read several chapters (On chronicles, John and some of the Gospels section.) Magnificent biblical theology that really ties the Bible narrative together: Glory to the coming King in his Splendour from Genesis to Revelation.

Really interesting read which helps give insight into the the books of the bible, which will help you better understand scripture in a deeper way. Worth reading.

well written and fairly devotional as well as scholarly.

ich habe mir das Buch geholt als Ergänzung zur biblischen Theologie von Vos (weil mir der Einstieg in diese zu schwer fiel) und zu Egelkrauth (weil er dann doch zu wissenschaftlich blieb), und wurde nicht enttäuscht, sehr angenehm geschrieben, leicht zu lesen, fast auf jeder Seite finden sich hilfreiche HInweise auf einen erbauenden Zugang zum biblischen Text.